Rosalina looked at Darius. "I had to save her!!! THey would have taken both of us anyway. I just prevented her from being taken." Rosalina told him.

__________________________________________________________

Gareth held Calista closer. "Your welcome." he said.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Ro, they could have killed you!!!" Darius shouted. "And nothing would be worth that---not even her!" he added. Especially not her, Darius thought to himself, his anger at Calista growing by the moment.
------------------------------------------------------------
"The guestrooms are clean and ready for you and Darius," Calista murmured as she simply rested against Gareth. Hearing raised voices coming from her room then, Calista could only sigh sadly as she just lowered her gaze in shame. She could not distinctly make out the words, but she had a hunch that she lay at the heart of the argument. "And now I am only ruining my sister's relationship," she mumbled rather dejectedly. I should just return to Julius and make this easier on everyone, she thought to herself.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "You don't understand." She said quietly. "Growing up it was always Cali looking after me. Tending to me if I was sick or hurt. If someone wanted to hurt me, she got in the way. She was always so strong, so bright and happy and full of life. But after her marriage, her soul started to die. her body and spirit broken. After my father died and I went to live with her, Julius, I have told you, took his anger out on her. Sometimes on me. But still, she protected me. She isn't who she was, and she needs someone to protect her, to care. I have to do it, for all she has done for me, its my turn."

_____________________________________________________________

Gareth sighed. "They love each other, and when you love someone, its easy to forgive. I should know . . . " His voice drifted off.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Darius groaned mentally, knowing that this self-inflicted indebtness that Rosalina felt toward her elder sister may make her behave in a rash manner where her sister was concerned. Ever since he had known Calista she had always been quiet and withdrawn, not the vibrant woman that Rosalina had described. He knew her as being meek, submissive, caring yes, but rather fearful. It almost seemed that this woman had become a shadow of herself, and while at any other time, such a story might stir pity in his heart, this time he felt nothing since Rosalina had been so brutally ravished because of her. "No, Ro. When your life may be at risk, I don't care what that woman did in the past, I will not let you put your own safety in danger because of her."
------------------------------------------------------------
Glancing up at Gareth as he spoke, Calista just searched his face. She could tell that he had loved a woman once, it was evident in his eyes. "You loved another deeply once," Calista whispered. "What was she like?" she asked before she could stop herself. Realizing that she was technically prying, Calista just looked down and blushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me anything," she added softly.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "I would never forgive myself if anything happened to my sister. I would rather suffer, then see her be in the hands of men like Julius."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gareth didn't say anything at first. "Her name was Catalina." He said quietly. "She was the love of my life . . ."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"That is noble sentiment, love" Darius told her softly, feeling his love for the woman grow. "But I will not let you suffer for anyone's sake, Ro. Not mine and not hers," he added.
------------------------------------------------------------
Remaining silent for a brief moment, Calista could feel the love that he had for this woman---could see it written all over his face. "What happened?" she asked softly before she could stop herself as she took his hand in hers.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina shook her head. "I can't loose her."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"She became ill." Gareth explained.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"And I cannot lose you," Darius told Rosalina softly.
------------------------------------------------------------
Lowering her head, Calista felt terrible for asking Gareth to relive his worst memories. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I shouldn't have pried..." she added before giving him a gentle hug.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "is that why you blame her?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gareth held Calista close, tears prickling his eyes. he couldn't help but remeber.

Gareth returned to his home with his wife Catalina. As soon as his cloak and boots were off he was in their bedroom, praying she would be feeling and doing better.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Yes," Darius said softly. "You could have been killed today. And I will never forget or forgive what happened."
------------------------------------------------------------
Eyes closed, Catalina moaned softly in bed as her fever worsened. Twisting her head from side to side, a frown crossed her face before she started to cough. Beads of sweat covered her pale face and overtime her breathing had grown more ragged. "Gareth..." she moaned weakly, desperately calling out for her husband.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed and went to Darius hugging him. "Please, can't you not blame her for my choice."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gareth sighed. "I'm here my love." he took a cloth and wet it in the bucket of cold water that was by the bed and put it on her brow. "I'm here." he said and gently kissed her.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Darius sighed as he pulled Rosalina close and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry, Ro. I can't," he said softly.
------------------------------------------------------------
Opening her eyes slightly as she felt the cold cloth against her clammy forehead, Catalina just gave Gareth a small smile as she weakly returned his kiss. "Everything...all right...my love?" she managed to ask before coughing again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina sighed. "Please, try, for me."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Yes, everything is fine." Gareth said, trying not to cry. Catalina has been so full of life, but now its been draining from her, slowly. "You should get back to sleep my love." he told her.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Darius sighed, knowing he was going to hate promising what he was about to. "All right, I will try. But I can do no more than that," he said finally.
------------------------------------------------------------
"Everything will be all right," Catalina whispered to Gareth as she weakly took his hand in hers. "I-I love you," she murmured as her eyes fluttered close and her grip on his hand slackened.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Thank you." Rosalina said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Catalina!" Fear gripped Gareth. "Love, answer me."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Darius merely nodded, praying that he was not making a mistake. "You're welcome, love. But you probably should not thank me yet," he said softly.
------------------------------------------------------------
Catalina did not respond as Gareth called out to her. Without warning, Catalina began to seize and her body began to jerk, twist and contort wildly on the bed, a sharp moaning coming from her lips as she did so.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!